“We’re told that we live in a time of austerity, but there is plenty of money for nuclear weapons,” she said.

Shanta, Ross and Sian, on the coach from Cardiff, all agreed that “education, health care and prison reform are all better things to spend Trident money on. Mutually assured destruction is MAD.”

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) organised the march and said that 60,000 people joined it. Tony Staunton, who sits on CND’s national council, said, “It’s not just about the money—it’s about our health and very survival.”

Many young people and first time demonstrators joined the march. There was a lot of excitement about Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn speaking at the rally in Trafalgar Square.

Protesters chanted, “Cameron out, Corbyn in!”

Sarah from Guildford had come on her first demo. “This is the first time in my life that I’ve supported Labour,” she said. “That’s because Jeremy Corbyn makes sense.

“People talk about Trident providing jobs, but Corbyn has already set out clear alternatives you could spend that money on.”

People weren’t just marching against Trident. Danielle, a leading student nurse campaigner, said, “We’re fighting to save our bursaries. The money used for Trident could fund 2.5 million student nurses.

“Bursaries are an investment into society’s health and wellbeing—Trident is just pointless and deadly.”

A dense sea of placards and banners snaked through central London and poured into Trafalgar Square.

Kate Hudson, CND general secretary, told the crowd, “This is the largest anti-nuclear protest for a generation.

“If anyone tries to tell you that we’re just a fringe group you know that’s a lie.”

PCS union leader Mark Serwotka cut against the pessimism of so many union leaders.

He told the crowd, “I want to address my colleagues in the trade union movement who are arguing that because we have to defend jobs we have to defend Trident.